Durham Match Thread 2019

[captaincolly]

Day 2 of the Lancashire friendly is washout. Not what England or Jimmy will have wanted but hopefully the weather will improve ahead of days 3 and 4.

[Durhamfootman]

I hope you're right but watching these last 3 insipid T20 games tending to the view that North and Franklin are a pair of charlatans.

Early days yet. They are, at least, clearing out the dead wood that JJB was routinely playing. That might be because the purse strings have been loosened a bit, of course, and these players might have gone anyway. The signings of Bangers, Eckersley and Dame D'Arcy were pretty astute, and an absolutely dreadful start to the CC campaign things has been turned around markedly. I was watching to see if the absence of Bancroft would see us going straight back into keystone kops batting mode for the Leicester game (particularly given the alarming way it does in T20), and we gained 5 batting points, which is unheard of.

I understand your concerns, and I would much rather have seen Colly or Benks at the helm rather than Franklin, but we are where we are and up to now I'm seeing signs of progress.... green shoots as it were, where before everything looked hopeless. The real test will come when they have to follow up the signings they made for this season (Short will be snapped up by a good team next year, so he'll need a quality replacement not called Handscomb) with some equally astute signings for next season. If they can, then I see no reason why we couldn't be vying for promotion next year and for T20 finals day too.

Hey.... once the other counties have been stripped of players for the Hundred, we might end up being one of the stronger sides for the 50 over cup too.

[westoelad]

I'm certainly not prejudging the new regime but it's easy to get rid of the deadwood, the challenge is replacing them with better. Cameron Steel finally seems to have regained his confidence and namesake Scott (aka Stainless) seems to be developing into a genuine all-rounder. 2 potential massive plusses there.

[captaincolly]

50 for Poynter against Jimmy and co! And an 86* stand with Eckersley. 310/4.

[Durhamfootman]

that'll reassure the Aussies.... can't even dismiss Poynter, they'll say.

[captaincolly]

that'll reassure the Aussies.... can't even dismiss Poynter, they'll say.

He ended up with 93. Eckersley lbw to Jimmy for 78.

[captaincolly]

I thought bad news might be on the cards when Anderson didn't bowl in our second innings this morning and with our early declaration!

[captaincolly]

D'Arcy Short and Scott Steel v Notts tonight. Handscomb has won the toss and opted to bat.

[captaincolly]

45/0 in the 4th over. Might make 120 at this rate.

[captaincolly]

Unusual game here. Great start by the openers but both out without a really big score followed by more wickets and a slowing run rate.

[captaincolly]

Finished with 171. Another poor effort after the openers apart from Clark. Might be enough but a look at the Notts lineup suggests it might be well short.
Doesn't really matter!

[westoelad]

Flatters to deceive is how I'd describe Short's campaign. Cameo 50s don't win T20 games.
As for Steel , get him signed on long contact. Not that we'll see a great deal of him- Hundred and IPL contacts await, I reckon.

[captaincolly]

I always thought 171 would be more than enough.
An excellent end to a poor campaign.

[westoelad]

I always thought 171 would be more than enough.
An excellent end to a poor campaign.

Your judgement has always been excellent,capt.after the event.
New contract for Rimmers?
16 wkts,e.r.<7.00. bowling in power play and at the death- excellent.

[captaincolly]

I always thought 171 would be more than enough.
An excellent end to a poor campaign.

Your judgement has always been excellent,capt.after the event.
New contract for Rimmers?
16 wkts,e.r.<7.00. bowling in power play and at the death- excellent.

Yes, I think he has done enough to justify one. And that's something else I thought I'd never say!